Winner of the ABC Young Performers Award, Eliza Shephard is a vibrant performer based in Melbourne and is quickly paving her way as an educator, improviser, and collaborator.

Her project ‘March of the Women’ celebrates female composers and 2023 is the fourth rendition of this honouring. A fervent contemporary musician, Eliza has established a course on experimental flute techniques, ‘The Extended Flute’, and is a specialist on the Glissando Headjoint.

Her talents as a flute player and creative artist earned her the position of a finalist in the Classical Freedman Fellowship in 2021, and she has received many accolades for the boldness and imagination she brings to her projects.

CutCommon Interview: Eliza Shephard is asking Australia to “think big and be brave” in programming works by women

Performance

Eliza is known as ‘fiery’ on stage, and captures the audience’s attention throughout her performances. With over twenty years experience on stage, Eliza is a confident and established performer in a wide range of styles. Her recitals are award-winning, and draw from Eliza’s many years in dance and theatre. She has performed in festivals, recital series and touring productions.

Education

As an educator, Eliza has held positions in primary and high schools and is a Teaching Associate at Monash University. She is enthusiastic about engaging with students, with a particular focus on accessibility to students in rural and regional areas.

Eliza has a passion for contemporary techniques on the flute, and has established ‘The Extended Flute’, a course aimed at flutists of all ages for them to experience and experiment with extended techniques.

Research

With her passion for contemporary music, Eliza extensively researched the Glissando Headjoint®, a creation of Robert Dick’s as part of her Masters of Music Research at Griffith University. She is expanding the repertoire for this mechanism, and increasing its outreach to flutists around the world.